Sipping lemon water is one of the most simple ways to boost your health.
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Not only is it delicious and incredibly good for you, but it’s also easy to make and relatively inexpensive to make. See the recipe below.
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Here are the Top 5 Reasons You Should Drink Lemon Water Every Day
1. Lemon water alkalizes your body (aka balances your pH).
While very acidic on their own, lemons have a very alkalizing effect on the body. Why is pH so important? It’s simple, cancer cells can’t grow in an alkaline environment. Keeping your body slightly alkaline by consuming alkalizing foods is extremely important to your overall health. (So is limiting acid-forming foods like dairy, animal proteins and high amounts of processed sugar.)
2. Lemon water boosts your immune system.
The high amounts of vitamin C, potassium and folate will boost your immune system and keep your body healthy. No more colds or sinus issues for you this Fall! Both the natural phytonutrients and gut-healing properties of this drink will give your immune system an extra boost.
Bonus: lemons are also high in lutein and zeaxanthin to keep your eyes healthy.
3. Lemon water is a natural diuretic (aka makes you pee & keeps the bloat off).
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This is a great reason to start your day with a large mug of warm lemon water: the diuretic effect helps detox your body to start your day off right. Since it’s a light, natural diuretic, it won’t dehydrate you as prescription diuretics can. In fact, the water and nature hydration of the lemon juice will improve your hydration while also giving you a very gentle diuretic effect to ease bloat.
4. Lemon water aids digestion.
If you ever experience indigestion, grumbling in your belly or digestion issues in general, sipping warm lemon water 10-15 minutes before you eat will help enzyme production in your gut and aid in digestion.
Even better, it also helps your digestion function properly, which can have gut-healing effects over the longterm.
5. Lemon water makes your skin pretty.
Supercharged with Vitamin C and tons of nutrients, regularly sipping warm lemon water will make your skin glow. Try it for a week and see for yourself.
Extra tip: Try my Ultimate Beauty Smoothie Recipe for even more hydration and a skin boost.
Why do I need a fresh lemon?
Trust me, if bottled lemon juice worked the same I’d say go for it! It just doesn’t. Bottled lemon juice has been pasteurized (heated to a high temperature) which kills most of the enzymes and nutrients. It’s also usually simply a mixture of water and citric acid with a little lemon flavor or very little lemon juice. If you want the natural healing benefits of this drink, you need to use a real lemon.
No Lemon? No Problem! Use a Lime Instead
Limes are also loaded with very similar properties to lemons, plus they taste great. Making your warm water with lime juice occasionally is a great way to mix things up.
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How to Make Lemon Water
Fill a 12-15 ounce mug filled with warm (but not boiling) water and add the juice of 1/2 a lemon. Always use a fresh lemon; never use bottled lemon juice. Organic lemons are best if you have access to them. If not, wash your lemon well before cutting into it. Also, boiling water will kill the nutrients in the lemon, you want warm water, not boiling hot. Bring your water to a boil and let it cool 3-5 minutes in the mug before adding the lemon. Room temperature water is also OK. Optional if desired: add a dash of organic cayenne pepper to boost your metabolism and further increase your digestive enzyme production. Sip each morning to enjoy the health benefits listed above.
Why Should I Drink This in the Morning?
As I mentioned above, warm lemon water gets your digestion going which is a great thing to do right when you wake up. It also rehydrates your body after you sleep (we loose so much hydration from simply breathing as we sleep!). Starting your day off hydrated with your digestive enzymes ready to go is a great way to improve your health. You can also sip this any time of day for extra benefits.
A small note of caution: since lemon water is acidic, be mindful of your tooth enamel. Every morning or once a day is great. If you drink it more often, you may want to rinse your mouth with plain water or brush your teeth to ensure lemon juice isn’t just sitting on your teeth all day.
More Ways to Boost Your Health:
- Dirty Dozen & Clean 15: When to Buy Organic
- 3 Healthy Habits You Can Start Today
- Bringing My Health Retreat Home: Part 1
- Bringing My Health Retreat Home: Part 2
- Natural Cold & Flu Remedies to Feel Better Fast
- The Qualitarian Way + How to Implement It
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